Developer plans grocery store, youth sports field in Manlius

A Cazenovia developer wants to build a youth sports field and clubhouse in Manlius and turn it over to a nonprofit board if the town allows him to build a commercial project that includes a 51,000-square- foot grocery store.

Sphere Development is asking town officials to rezone the proposed project site, which is on Route 92 next to Eastern Hills Bible Church, to make way for the store, other commercial development and office space, a projected $15 million project.

The proposed site is near the upscale Mallard's Landing and Glen Eagle housing developments.

Sphere wants to build the grocery store in a plaza with other retail space, a building for a restaurant and an office building, said Sphere managing partner Kurt Wendler.

Sphere has a grocery store tenant, which Wendler declined to name, with history of community involvement. His company is building a Price Chopper near Hamilton.

The Manlius store would be slightly larger than the P&C grocery store in Manlius, Wendler said. The project would include about 75,000 square feet of retail space and 8,000 square feet of office space and several buildings.

Sphere also would create a clubhouse and grass ball field for soccer, lacrosse and Pop Warner football, Wendler said. The field and clubhouse would cost an estimated $400,000.

Sphere is under contract to purchase 15 acres, roughly four of which would be for the youth field, Wendler said.

The parcel's current zoning allows residential development, so Sphere is asking the town to change the zoning to "neighborhood shopping."

Wendler, who lives a half-mile from the proposed site, coaches youth soccer, his children play soccer and he said he knows from experience that the community needs more youth playing fields.

The plan is to create a nonprofit board that includes leaders of Pop Warner football, and youth soccer and lacrosse officials, to own and operate the facility.

The clubhouse would have public restrooms, a concession stand and storage for equipment.
Sphere wants to relocate its corporate office from Cazenovia to the proposed development, Wendler said.

Wendler said he's collected signatures of support for the Manlius project from more than 100 neighbors.

"So this is very much in my backyard as it is all my neighbors' " he said.

Sphere's projects include a shopping plaza under construction just outside Hamilton in Madison County called The Madison Marketplace. The 137,000-square-foot plaza will include a Price Chopper and a Tractor Supply store.

The Manlius Town Board, which heard Sphere's pitch for the zone change last week for the first time, will consider the issue again at its meeting Wednesday, town Supervisor Mark Tetley said.

The board will decide whether to ask the planning board for a recommendation on the zone change request. The final decision lies with the Town Board.